UK Raiders defend the Elmo Trophy
In a case of history repeating, UK visitors the Rutland Raiders climbed through a packed leaderboard on Sunday morning to top the round robin rankings and ultimately win the final just as they had done the year before.
Sunday brought challenging conditions for sailors and race management with wind strengths going from zero knots to 6 knots throughout the day. It was a credit to PRO David Bolger and team, the changeover squad and of course the sailors that 42 races were completed Sunday morning to end the round robin in perhaps the only zephyrs that appeared in Dublin Bay.
After 180 races a clear top 8 teams emerged for the quarter finals but as time moved on with zero wind, quarter finals were scrapped and fingers were crossed that wind would appear in time for a semi final. At 1500 when hope was dwindling, 5 knots duly arrived and racing could commence.
The semi final matchups saw the Raiders against ‘Where’s Peter?’ and Schull Sharks against ‘Prestige Worldwide’. With Schull Sharks as the current Irish School champions and Rutland Raiders as UK school champions high octane team racing despite the weather was expected.
Live commentary online was well received by sailors and supporters both ashore as well as the many spectator craft afloat.
Both semi finals were won convincingly with the schools champions triumphant. Overnight leaders Prestige Worldwide won the petit final as they did last year and must feel somewhat cursed at leading the event overnight the last two years only to finish third overall on both occasions.
The final was an exhibition in starting technique with the Raiders dominating the Sharks and establishing 1,2,3 combinations by the top mark in both races from which they went on to win and defend the trophy for 2024. The Raiders no doubt benefited from the wisdom of their coach, multiple team race world medalist Steve Tylecote.
With so many teams, the Elmo has become an exercise in logistics; 36 teams, 36 supplied firefly dinghies, 216 sailors, over 300 dinners (2 courses) served on Saturday night, 55 volunteers every day, 12 umpires, 187 races, 200 Teddy's '99' Ice Creams on Sunday afternoon and finally over 3366 starting hoots on the committee boat.
The RSGYC is especially grateful for the loan of boats from NYC, UCD, TCD and Irish Sailing.
With 10 teams on the waitlist this year, sailors will be sure to mark their calendars so as to be ready to enter for the 10th Elmo trophy, set for September 6/7 in 2025.
- Winners of Elmo Trophy Rutland Raiders
- Second Schull Sharks
- Third Prestige Worldwide
- Elmo Plate Winners Sea Squirts